Bush raises pay for Cabinet, Congress

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- President Bush has signed an executive order increasing pay for all federal workers, including the Cabinet and Congress, the Washington Post reports.

Under the order, the vice president, speaker of the House and chief justice will receive $208,100 a year, while Cabinet secretaries get $180,100. Members of Congress and federal judges

Under the order, the salaries of Cabinet secretaries will increase to $180,100. Annual pay for members of Congress and federal judges increases to $162,100.

The executive order provides specific pay guides implementing a bill passed by Congress that authorizes an average pay increase of 3.5 percent. The administration wanted a smaller increase, proposing 1.5 percent for civilian workers and 3.5 percent for the military, but the bill adopted the principle of "pay parity" for civilian and military workers.